A lot of people just think that lawns are lawns. But where you live is a critical factor in how your lawn will perform as well as what “extra help” it’s going to require. That’s because different areas are going to have different soil types.
Understanding how to identify soil type is important when making the best decisions for your lawn.
This is the same reason why different lawn care services are important in different parts of the country. We understand this can be confusing.
For instance, in the Northeast, low soil pH is a common problem and lawns frequently need to be amended with limestone. People sometimes move to the Ohio area from a state like Pennsylvania and assume they still need lime on their lawns. However, most lawns in our region do not have these pH concerns and do not require lime.
In this article, we’ll dive into some things you should know about the types of soil in Ohio. Understanding more about what type of soil you have can help you make wise choices for your lawn.
What Type of Soil Do I Have?
According to Ohio State University, the types of soil in Ohio are varied depending on exactly what region of Ohio you live in. Ohio is divided into 12 soil regions. We fall under Region 7, the oldest glaciated area in Ohio.
People are often surprised to learn there are so many soil types in Ohio. While they all have their pros and cons, a key consideration about our soil type is that it tends to be heavy in clay and has inadequate drainage.
According to Ohio State University, this can result in slow water movement through the subsurface level.
With this soil makeup, it’s not uncommon for soil in our region to become heavily compacted. Our clay soil tends to have small pore spacing, which can make the movement of water (and oxygen) difficult. As a result, the soil becomes compacted.
This is a key reason why lawn aeration is such a vital service in our region and why we encourage homeowners to make sure they’re having it performed annually. Our soil type makes it a necessity.
In fact, golf courses have the budget to perform this service multiple times a year, and they do it. But at the very least, you should be keeping up with annual lawn aeration to help address the compaction.
Using Mechanical Core Aeration to Work With Our Soil Type in Ohio
There is no greater way to deal with the compacted soil we face here in our region than lawn aeration (specifically, mechanical core aeration).
That being said, recently, a service called “liquid aeration” has been gaining some traction. It’s gotten some interest as a buzzword with claims that almost seem too good to be true. And as we discuss in the linked article, it essentially is too good to be true.
It’s simply not a powerful enough service for what our soil type needs.
Instead, we recommend mechanical core aeration which involves pulling cores of soil from the ground in order to help break up the compaction that plagues our region. With mechanical aeration, these cores of soil are also intentionally left on the ground so that they can decompose back into the soil and add even more nutrients.
There is simply no better way to help break up soil compaction than mechanical lawn aeration. Core aeration helps to improve the penetration of oxygen, water, and nutrients to the lawn’s root zone, where these elements are needed most.
Concerns About Soil Types in Ohio
At Oasis Turf & Tree, we have a long history of working on lawns in Cincinnati, Dayton, OH, and Northern Kentucky. That means we’ve learned a tremendous amount about what works and what doesn’t for our soils.
That being said, sometimes if a lawn isn’t responding to our program, then a soil test is warranted.
A lawn soil test is an analysis of what is going on in the soil. It involves pulling cores of soil throughout your lawn and having those sent to a laboratory for analysis. It will look at the pH of the soil as well as the overall nutrient makeup.
The most important consideration when having a lawn soil test performed is what’s done with the results. First and foremost, it’s essential that those results are properly interpreted.
If you aren’t making the proper amendments based on those results, it isn’t going to make a difference for your lawn. If you already have a lawn care company handling your lawn services, it makes a lot more sense to do the testing through them.
As we mentioned, we sometimes perform a soil test if your lawn is not responding to our applications. The soil test would help determine if there’s something more significant going on that requires correction.
The Key to a Great Lawn is Great Soil Health
In talking about soil types in Ohio, we would be remiss in not mentioning how important soil health is to your lawn care results. Without good soil, you simply can’t expect good results.
That’s why at Oasis Turf & Tree, we take soil health seriously. We know that the secret to achieving an amazing lawn lies in the health of the soil. Soil health is very undervalued, even by lawn care pros. But we know it is the soil that supports the health of your total lawn. There’s simply no way around it.
Talking about the types of soil in Ohio can get very technical and at the end of the day, it’s probably not something you necessarily even want to deal with. Worrying about how to identify soil type and what your specific soil needs is something that you can let a professional handle.
At Oasis Turf & Tree, our lawn care program already includes everything your lawn needs and takes our soil type and needs into account. That means that instead of having to worry about the technical details, you can simply spend your time enjoying your lawn.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to caring about getting you the amazing lawn care results you deserve.
When it comes to your lawn, we want to be your partner in success! When that happens, you can let go of the worries about whether you’re going to see great lawn care results and know that you’re in good hands and the right steps are already being taken.
Want to learn more about professional lawn care services for your Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, or Northern Kentucky home? Request your quote, choose the lawn care program that’s right for you, and then sit back and relax as the pros help you get the lawn of your dreams without the worries.
